PANJIM: The vigilant locals of Guirdolim village, who have been waging a battle against the Railway authorities to protect their natural surroundings, received yet another boost on Tuesday after two inspections were held to assess their complaints of mud being dumped in low-lying areas and water bodies.
It may be recalled that the villagers on Monday had stopped trucks that were trying to dump mud on the eastern side of the sluice gate that connects to the rivulet which flows into Kushavati River.
This mud is being used for the railway double tracking project which is being opposed in the State.
On Tuesday, there were two inspections, the first by the officials of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) while the second was conducted by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB).
At the first inspection which was held at 9 am, the Railway officials agreed to demarcate the area on the eastern side of the Naukhazan Lake’s sluice gate.
Furthermore, RVNL officials agreed to build a retaining wall without diverting the flow of water from the lake up to the Kushavati River.
More importantly, the railway officials agreed not to shift the sluice gate. The locals demanded a written assurance which will be signed by both the railway officials and the villagers.
It is pertinent to note that when the Water Resources Department (WRD) had issued a show cause notice to RVNL to stop the dumping of mud and industrial slag, the department had also asked RVNL to submit its plan for the area given the risk it could cause to the lake and waterways.
RVNL had submitted a plan to WRD to shift the sluice gate, which the locals had opposed vehemently.
“Yes, no shifting and now, the RVNL has agreed and that’s our victory. We are waiting for their written assurance regarding their demarcation plan,” said Agostinho Antao, Chairperson of the Guirdolim Village Biodiversity Committee.
GSPCB officials Engineering Assistant (EA) Liston Fernandes, and Jr Laboratory Assistant (JLA) Anthony Miranda were present for the second inspection at 11 am, which was held in land bearing Survey No 259 of Guirdolim village in the presence of the Sarpanch, Secretary, BMC chairperson and villagers.
The GSPCB officials took water samples from the rivulet where industrial slag was allegedly dumped by the Railway authorities.
However, it was the contention of the villagers that the officials took the water samples only and not of the slag which was dumped.
“We wanted the test of the soil/industrial waste which was still there on the edge of the road, but they didn’t take the slag,” said Antao.
It may be recalled that industrial slag had been dumped around 20 days ago by the Railway authorities but most of it had been removed after a meeting that was held between the locals and RNVL.
There are still concerns about the kind of impact the residue of the slag could have on the environment.
In a related development, WRD, which had inspected the site earlier, asked the villagers to fix a date where they would meet them and update them on what the department will be doing. The date will be announced soon.
